Public Library Administration

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PUBLIC K ADMINISTRATION By. JOHN ADAMS LOWE Assistant Librarian, Brooklyn Public Library Formerly Librarian, , Williams College and Agent of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts Chicago American Library Association 1928 TO E. W. L. WHO KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS PREFACE THIS book is primarily intended as a basic text book for library school use in the instruction of students of college grade who are preparing themselves for the executive position of librarian. It will also be found useful by those persons who are trying to discover for themselves the elementary principles of the administration of a public library. Because of the wide scope of the subject., the dis cussion is limited, so far as possible, to the affairs of the administrator of a free public library, maintained under state laws, having an appointed board of trus tees, receiving its main support from direct taxation or municipal appropriation, manned by a staff of approximately thirty people, and giving service to a community of approximately one hundred thousand population. To designate this type the general term medium-sized library is used. As a matter of fact, the principles which have the most value for the student are those which are equally applicable to small and large libraries as well. To make the book more useful to any student, whether he pursues his study in a group or individ ually, a few selected references are added to each chapter. These may serve to lay emphasis on im portant considerations, and to amplify matters VI PREFACE which deserve further treatment than can be given them here. The book aims to give the student ideals for his work of managing a library, and to establish in his mind the proper principles of action. The application of those principles he must, as an ad ministrator, work out in his own particular field of endeavor. Experience adds necessary expertness. Because of the availability of the extensive bibliog raphies of Messrs. Cannons and Wheeler, no attempt has been made to include a complete bibliography. The references chosen for this book have to do direct ly with the more limited conception of public library administration, as the direction or management of a public library. In the formal classroom instruction of the library school, investigation, solution of problems, reports, discussion, and conference are admirably adapted to the treatment of library administration. If actual practice supplements such methods of acquiring knowledge, so much the better. In that case, this text may serve as a point of departure. By way of equipment, there should be available in the files of the school as complete a collection as possible of printed data on business management and control of representative medium-sized American public libra ries. With such a wealth of material at hand assign ments may be made more intelligently and more satisfactorily for all concerned than through re peated questionnaires. The material would quite PREFACE vii naturally include annual reports, schemes of library service, publicity material, organization data, budget figures, cost data, facts concerning personnel, and printed administrative forms. Among many other libraries characteristic of the medium-sized type, on which this discussion is based, are the public libraries in these cities Albany, N. Y. Davenport, Iowa Des Moines, Iowa East Cleveland, Ohio East Orange, N. J. Erie, Pa. Flint, Mich. Gary, Ind. Haverhill, Mass. Houston, Tex. Kalamazoo, Mich. Kenosha, Wis. Manches ter, N. HL New Bedford, Mass. Peoria, 111. Quincy, Mass. Racine, Wis. St. Joseph, Mo. Sioux City, Iowa Somerville, Mass. Spokane, Wash. Spring field, 111. Springfield, Mass. Superior, 111. Syracuse, N. Y. Tacoma, Wash. and Wichita, Kan. Here is set down no new thing, nor is any claim made for originality of any kind...